Style Enthusiast Trinity Griffin Speaks On Her Fashion and Journalism Inspirations, Life As a Former Student at F.I.T., Her Love/Hate Relationship with Fashion, How Black Culture Influences The World, And More!

March, better known as Women’s History Month, got off to a celebratory start last week. With so many amazing, inspiring, and talented women within our culture, we want to continue to shed as much light and give as many praises as we possibly can. This particular conversation is dear to me because of the history behind it.

I met Trinity Griffin in 2014 when she was 17 years old. A friend of ours at the time introduced us while on the campus of F.I.T and since then, we’ve been the best of friends. To see the woman she has grown into over the last six and half years has been a true pleasure to watch. Not only has she continued to show her love for fashion by displaying her personal style on a regular basis, but she has also taken off within her respective space of journalism. Trinity and I had a long conversation about two years ago regarding the world of freelance writing because she had never done it before. She knew my story when it came to freelancing for publications and wanted some quick advice. Now, two years later, she has published articles in Teen Vogue and Essence Magazine. Also, in a matter of a few weeks, she managed to build a brand from the ground up called When We Dress, a brand dedicated to highlighting Black fashion and beauty. This speaks volumes to her character - if she believes she can do something, she’ll put her head down and get it done. Aside from the creative stylist being dedicated, she is also an advocate for uplifting fellow Black creatives and entrepreneurs through shared resources and knowledge. “I’d say my true definition of success is having the ability to put people in a better position than they were before,” says Trinity. “So whether that be being able to provide a salary, resources, knowledge, or even just access, that’s when you know you’re on the right path. Being able to play a part in opening the door for people who look like me, that’s success.”

I had the chance to catch up with my best friend to talk about her inspirations in fashion and journalism, why Black influence impacts the world, how her time at F.I.T. prepared her for womanhood, and what’s next for her in 2021. Read the full interview below.

1 - What inspirations did you have early on that influenced you to get into fashion?

That’s a really good question and I don’t think I’ve ever been asked this before. I honestly can’t pinpoint any one person, place, or thing that inspired my love for fashion but I do remember always loving putting looks together. I remember being three or four years old, staying with my mom’s friend for a month while she was on tour, and putting on a full fashion show with every single one of the outfits that were packed in my bag for those 30 days. That has always been what was the most exciting for me. The process of coordinating a look and it coming out exactly how I envisioned it. I really think it just boils down to it being a form of expression. I wasn’t always the most expressive so I feel like writing and dressing have always been my main outlets. Both avenues really helped channel my creativity and contributed to my eye for detail.

2 - In what ways did your love for fashion grow as you began moving into your teen/young adult years?

I remember being in high school when my personal style really started to develop itself. I was wearing glitter oxfords, safari printed shirts, head wraps, and things like that. People would sometimes ask me why I’m wearing that and I’d just be like “Uh, cause I want to,” lol. Then not too long after a lot of those same people would be wearing those same things they questioned me for. Not to say that they copied me or anything but just basically saying that I felt like I always had an eye for forecasting trends. Once I realized that is when I realized that I wanted to go to school for fashion. I only applied to two schools, which were F.I.T and LIM, and got accepted to both thankfully because if I didn’t I’m not sure what I would have done. F.I.T was the cheaper option so I decided to go with that. I had my mind made up about wanting to be a fashion buyer for a department store. For those who don’t know what that is, a fashion buyer is basically a person who makes all the purchasing decisions for a retailer, such as what styles are sold in the store, what colorways, and the quantity. They make these decisions based on past sales and upcoming trends which is why I thought I would be a good fit since I kind of already had the eye for it. Did I end up being a buyer? Absolutely not. We’ll get into that more later though.

3 - You attended the Fashion Institute of Technology right out of high school. That’s actually where we met. What was that transition like coming from Queens, moving into a dorm in the middle of New York City, and being around other like-minded students?

I actually was completely against dorming initially and only did it because my mom forced me to because she wanted me to “get the full college experience.” I was fully terrified of living with someone I didn’t know and just thinking the absolute worst would come out of the situation. Luckily, my best friend ended up going to F.I.T as well for fine arts so we lived together. We had a third roommate who we didn’t know but she ended up being really cool and we all clicked so thank the Lord for that because I have heard some horror stories. Once I settled in I never wanted to come home. It was inspiring being on my own (kind of) and being surrounded by people who were also driven and had similar goals. I dreaded going home over breaks and just wanted to be in the city 24/7. So in the end I was absolutely glad my mom forced me to dorm even though it was only for two years.

4 - Talk a little about your experience in college being that you attended F.I.T. all four years. Secondly, what did it teach you about life, being on your own as a young adult, and the fashion industry?

FIT was definitely a highlight of my teen/adult life, even through all the sleepless nights, stress, frustration, tears, etc. From the moment I got to F.I.T there was this energy that just made me feel so driven and I needed to be doing everything it took to ensure I’d have a successful and fruitful career. I was super career-focused from 17 years old. I feel like F.I.T just kind of instills that in you and I’m sure you can relate. Earlier I mentioned I originally wanted to be a buyer. For some reason, I don’t remember seeing many opportunities for buyer internships. So I just jumped to the other end of the spectrum: Fashion Sales. For those who don’t know, those are the people who the buyer purchases the garments from for the retail stores. From being a stylist at a boutique named Modalistas to a stylist at Caché the year after that, I ended up landing my first sales internship that did production and design for sleepwear brands like Ralph Lauren, Oscar de La Renta, and Jane & Bleeker, to name a few. I still have samples from them to this day which was definitely my favorite perk of sales internships. There was a point where I was in school full-time, working my part-time job as a stylist, and working two different sales internships, 10-15 hours per internship, a week. I look back and really ask myself “How in the hell did I do that?” I wanted to get as much experience (and make as much money, lol) as possible. I almost never worked for free. All the extended internships I had during college were paid. I think about that sometimes and wonder if I had been willing to work for free for certain opportunities, would I have been where I wanted to be sooner? Who knows? Maybe. Maybe not. Still, we move!

After doing the sales internships I realized those positions were not creative/expressive enough for me which is what landed me my first PR and Marketing internship at a home decor brand called Bungalow 5. That was when I realized PR and Marketing was where I wanted to be but in fashion. I ended up staying at Bungalow 5 for three years; one as an intern during my last year of college and two as a Marketing Assistant and full-time employee. I remember feeling really unfulfilled during this time which is what made way for my style blog in 2016 that I’ll talk a little more about later. I was in Marketing but technically not fashion and after a while, it just didn’t feel right anymore. I worked my way up to Digital Marketing Strategist at the end of 2018 and six months later landed a position back in fashion with CLO. Overall I would say F.I.T made way for my ability to try out different career fields and see what it was that I truly enjoyed. It fueled my independence and helped me learn what I liked and didn't like. From styling to sales to PR and Marketing, I was able to hold onto the things that brought me joy to do and let go of whatever didn’t. For that, I am forever grateful.

5 - You currently work as a Marketing Specialist for a company called CLO Virtual Fashion Inc., which creates the technology for CLO, a 3D design software. Can you talk a little bit about what your job entails and how it correlates with your love for fashion?

Yes, so I do the PR and Marketing for CLO which is software that creates virtual, true-to-life garment visualization. A lot of everyone’s favorite brands use the software and it basically allows for them to visualize what a garment will look like before actually creating a physical sample. This saves time and fabric, increases the accuracy of designs, and allows designers the capability to be more creative. It can be used across every step of the supply chain from production and design to marketing and e-commerce. If you’ve seen any 3D fashion shows with garments walking down a runway or digital versions of a garment on a company’s website, I am 99.99% sure that CLO was behind the digitization. We have nine offices globally, so essentially my job is to spearhead events and partnerships while also managing social media and the blog with my counterpart who is the EU Marketing Specialist. I am technically the US Marketing Specialist but we each act as consultants to assist with Marketing in other regions.

I actually wouldn’t say it correlates with my love for fashion per se. Instead, I’d say it is a direct connection to my love and need for expression while also helping the company express their voice and story as well. I realized that is the direct connection between my love for fashion and style, and why I enjoy marketing to the extent that I do. From my eye for detail in dressing myself, and sometimes others, to my love for writing and storytelling, with marketing, I’m able to use most of my skills at one time.

6 - September of 2020 you launched When We Dress, a brand “dedicated to showcasing the marvel and originality of Black style and beauty”. What was the inspiration behind bringing this to life?

I listen to gospel music in the morning when I get ready. One day in July or August I believe I was listening to “When You Praise” by Fred Hammond and literally the phrase “When We Dress” popped into my head. That’s it. I didn’t even know what it was at the time. I just had a name with no concept. I hadn’t given it much thought again until a couple of weeks later when the concept of a community popped into my head. Just something that shined a light on Black creatives, Black-owned brands, and trends that started with us to remind the rest of the world who did it first. “It” can really be anything because I truly believe most, if not all, trends across industries trace back to the Black community. One of my favorite quotes is “Create the things you wish existed,” and after all of the protests last summer and constant reminders that the world doesn’t care about making space for us, I was inspired to make one of our own; specifically in the realm of style and beauty because those two avenues have been the Black community’s means of expression for decades. Centuries even. I also wanted to be more conscious of where I spent my money and support more Black-owned brands, so I’d find brands that I like or admire and feature them so other people can shop with them too, or at least have the brands on their radar. I wanted it to be a place that Black people can go to for inspiration whether that be for an uplifting motivational message, style inspiration, or inspiration for a nail design they might want to try.

What is so funny is that just six or seven months before starting When We Dress, I was really over fashion. I got to a point at the top of 2020 where I was just like “What is the point of all this?” I didn’t care anymore for a long time because it all felt superficial and there was no bigger picture. It felt really purposeless for me, but When We Dress and the reason for starting it revived that spark again. It made my love for fashion and style feel much more meaningful.

7 - In your opinion, why was it important to shed light on why Black culture influences the fashion world?

The first post I have on the When We Dress Instagram page is a quote by Melissa Kimble that states, “The world does not move without Black creativity.” That encompasses how powerful our contributions are, and not only to creative industries like fashion, beauty, and music but to the world period. We are who most industries look to for all things “cool” and “trendy.” Popular culture is quite literally Black culture and it’s disheartening as hell when that narrative is not even just dismissed, but completely overlooked. I just want it to be more widely accepted or, at the very least, I’d like to be instrumental in continuing to force people to see it constantly so that they can’t ever forget it.

8 - How would you explain your style?

I feel like this is the hardest question ever and I’m honestly still trying to figure it out, BUT if I absolutely had to think of an explanation I would say it’s very calculated. I always want everything to be perfectly coordinated from head-to-toe. I would also say chic, polished, and timeless. I don't often follow trends, but when I do, I like to incorporate my own twist. I’d say versatile too as I like to mix elements and high + low pieces a lot. I love luxury items and always have since high school, but I love them even more when they’re not full price which is what sparked my love for thrifting and shopping consignment. I’ve started talking about this more on my IG stories too as of late. I started thrifting while living in the city just cause, you know, I was a broke college student and it opened me up to a whole new world of style. I’d find a Diane von Furstenberg dress or a pair of Marni pants for like $30. Thrifting makes putting together outfits even more fun for me because you never know what you’ll pick up that day and I get to walk through the aisles and visualize how certain pieces would pair with pieces I have back home in my closet. It’s really fun for me, lol. One of my favorite pastimes.

9 - Not only are you a Marketing Specialist by day and the Founder of a thriving brand by night, but you’re also a published writer. You’ve penned some amazing op-ed pieces for Teen Vogue, Essence, and MEFeater. What inspired you to start writing?

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember and I vividly remember my 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Norman telling me to “never stop writing” at the end of the school year. I don’t remember doing much writing outside of journaling or English class until I picked up writing again when I started my life and style blog in 2016. Then I contributed a couple of style pieces to Brainwash in 2018 and started writing for MEFeater the year after. I’ve always been really opinionated and vocal and I definitely know that my blog is what sparked my love for op-ed pieces specifically. I actually used to refer to myself as a “fashion enthusiast and sh*t talker” because anyone who had me on social media knew I always had something to say about something, lol. Little did I know that would translate into taking writing as seriously as I have. I truly believe that our gifts and talents were always there from the start. You don’t stumble upon them. It’s just about tapping into them and that always happens right when it’s supposed to. All things in God’s divine order.

10 - What’s your favorite piece that you have written so far? Why?

I would definitely say my favorite piece is my most recent article for Teen Vogue titled “25 Lessons I’ve Learned by 25.” I wrote that piece a week or two before my 25th birthday and it felt like I was coming to the end of a really long growth cycle in my life. I had been going through a lot of growing pains for a while and, at that time, it felt like I was finally getting a really good grasp on who I am, what I want out of life, and knowing that can change from one point to the next and that is OK. I spent all of November just being super reflective on everything I’d been through, accomplished and “failed” at (I put fail in quotation marks because there are no failures, just lessons). It felt like a huge transitional period for me. That article was a culmination of some of the most important lessons I learned up until that point. I cried writing it just thinking about how far I’d come. It was super therapeutic and, with pieces like that, I always want to evoke the same feeling in whoever reads it.

11 - What’s your true definition of success?

I’d say my true definition of success is having the ability to put people in a better position than they were before. So whether that be being able to provide a salary, resources, knowledge, or even just access, that’s when you know you’re on the right path. Being able to play a part in opening the door for people who look like me, that’s success. Even with that, I consider success to be a lifelong journey, not particularly a destination. I think it’s something we’ll always constantly strive to achieve which is what keeps me motivated personally.

12 - What can we expect from Trinity Griffin as a writer and brand owner for 2021?

Well, for Women’s History Month, When We Dress is going to be highlighting some of our favorite fashion and beauty products from Black-owned brands so definitely follow us to keep up with that content. We also launched our chat series “We Need to Talk About…” for Black History Month which is a chat series discussing fashion, beauty, and wellness with Black creatives across varying industries so keep an eye out for that next chat soon. You can for sure expect to see me getting these looks off, in some Black-owned pieces of course, on my own personal Instagram, and sometimes When We Dress. Expect to continue seeing me champion Black creatives and businesses period across all my platforms. One of my main goals this year was also to be more consistent with freelance writing. As you can see I like to have my hands in a little bit of everything and I’d say writing is the hardest to stay consistent at, especially as a freelance writer. I would love to be on contract as a staff writer somewhere so hopefully that’s in the cards for me this year. Maybe even keep an eye out for some product launching, who knows?

You can follow Trinity’s personal Instagram @The.Trinity and her brand page @WhenWeDress to stay updated on what’s to come!

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